Connector device

ABSTRACT

It is aimed to improve workability at the time of assembling. A connector device is provided with a first connector including a first terminal unit and to be mounted on a first circuit board, a second connector including a second terminal unit and to be mounted on a second circuit board, and an adaptor including a pair of connecting end parts. The pair of connecting end parts are connected to the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit with the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit facing each other, and symmetrical with respect to a facing direction of the first terminal unit and the second terminal unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a connector device.

BACKGROUND

Patent Document 1 discloses a connector device including a firstconnector and a second connector facing each other and configured toconnect the first and second connectors via an adaptor. The adaptor isso mounted as to be relatively swingable with respect to the first andsecond connectors. Since positional deviations of the both connectorsare absorbed by the inclination of the adaptor when the first and secondconnectors are positionally deviated in a direction intersecting afacing direction, the both connectors can be connected.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 8,801,459

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved

The above connectors are assembled by connecting one connecting end partof the adaptor to the first connector and, thereafter, connecting thesecond connector to the other connecting end part of the adaptor. Atthis time, to prevent the other connecting end part from beingerroneously connected to the first connector, the orientation of theadaptor has to be confirmed in advance prior to a connecting operationto the first connector. Thus, there is a problem of poor assemblingworkability.

A connector of the present disclosure was completed on the basis of theabove situation and aims to improve workability at the time ofassembling.

Means to Solve the Problem

The present disclosure is directed to a connector device with a firstconnector including a first terminal unit, the first connector beingmounted on a first circuit board, a second connector including a secondterminal unit, the second connector being mounted on a second circuitboard, and an adaptor including a pair of connecting end parts, whereinthe first and second terminal units include contact portions symmetricalwith each other, and the pair of connecting end parts are contactablewith the contact portions and symmetrical with respect to a facingdirection of the first and second terminal units.

Effect of the Invention

The connector device of the present disclosure is excellent inworkability at the time of assembling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first connector.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where adaptors areseparated in a second connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alignment member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second connector.

FIG. 5 is a side view in section of the second connector.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where the alignment member isremoved in the second connector.

FIG. 7 is a front view in section showing a state where the first andsecond connectors are connected.

FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged side view in section showing a state wherethe second connector is arranged on an upper side and the adaptor isheld hanging from the second connector.

FIG. 9 is a front view in section of the adaptor.

FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged plan view showing a state where theadaptor and a hole portion of the alignment member are coaxiallyarranged.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a vertically inverted state of thefirst connector.

FIG. 12 is a side view in section of the first connector.

FIG. 13 is a front view in section of the first connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION Description of Embodimentsof Present Disclosure

First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.

(1) The connector device of the present disclosure is provided with afirst connector including a first terminal unit, the first connectorbeing mounted on a first circuit board, a second connector including asecond terminal unit, the second connector being mounted on a secondcircuit board, and an adaptor including a pair of connecting end parts,wherein the first and second terminal units include contact portionssymmetrical with each other, and the pair of connecting end parts arecontactable with the contact portions and symmetrical with respect to afacing direction of the first and second terminal units. According tothe configuration of the present disclosure, since the pair ofconnecting end parts provided on the adaptor are symmetrical, theorientation of the adaptor needs not be confirmed in connecting theadaptor to the first or second terminal unit. Therefore, the connectordevice of the present disclosure is excellent in workability at the timeof assembling.

(2) Preferably, the adaptor includes a movable inner conductor, amovable dielectric for accommodating the movable inner conductor and amovable outer conductor surrounding the movable dielectric, and themovable dielectric is exposed on end surfaces of the connecting endparts. According to this configuration, workability is good since themovable dielectric can be pushed in connecting the connecting end partto the first or second terminal.

(3) Preferably, the adaptor includes a movable dielectric and a tubularmovable outer conductor surrounding the movable dielectric, a lockinggroove is formed in an outer periphery of the movable dielectric and themovable dielectric is formed with a resiliently deformable locking clawprojecting obliquely toward an inner peripheral side, and relativedisplacements of the movable dielectric and the movable outer conductorare restricted by locking the locking claw in the locking groove.According to this configuration, in the process of assembling themovable outer conductor with the movable dielectric, the locking clawslides in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the movabledielectric while being resiliently deformed. If the movable outerconductor is assembled with the movable dielectric, the locking clawresiliently returns and is locked in the locking groove, whereby themovable dielectric and the movable outer conductor are held in anassembled state.

(4) In (3), preferably, a pair of the locking grooves are formed at twopositions spaced apart in an axial direction in an outer peripheralsurface of the movable dielectric, a pair of the locking claws arearranged while being spaced apart in the axial direction, and each ofthe pair of locking claws projects in an oblique direction toward themating locking claw. According to this configuration, in the process ofassembling the movable outer conductor with the movable dielectric, thelocking claw on a front side in an assembling direction passes throughthe locking groove on a rear side in the assembling direction. If themovable outer conductor is assembled with the movable dielectric, thepair of locking claws resiliently return and are individually locked inthe pair of locking grooves. Since the pair of locking claws are lockedto the movable dielectric in directions opposite to each other, themovable outer conductor and the movable dielectric are restricted frombeing relatively displaced in either of forward and reverse directionsalong the axis direction.

(5) In (3) or (4), preferably, a tapered slide contact surface inclinedto gradually increase a clearance to an inner peripheral surface of themovable outer conductor toward the connecting end part is formed on anouter peripheral surface of the movable dielectric. According to thisconfiguration, in the process of assembling the movable outer conductorwith the movable dielectric, the locking claw slides in contact with thetapered slide contact surface. Thus, the projecting end of the lockingclaw is not caught on the outer peripheral surface of the movabledielectric.

(6) In (5), preferably, the movable outer conductor includes a resilientarm portion to be connected to the first or second terminal unit whilebeing resiliently displaced toward the inner peripheral side, and theresilient arm portion is disposed in a region facing the tapered slidecontact surface. According to this configuration, since a space betweenthe tapered slide contact surface and the resilient arm portionfunctions as a deflection space for allowing a resilient displacement ofthe resilient arm portion, an outer diameter of the movable outerconductor can be suppressed small.

(7) In (6), preferably, the locking claw is formed in a region differentfrom the resilient arm portion. According to this configuration, sincethe rigidity of the resilient arm portion is not reduced by forming thelocking claw, the connection reliability of the resilient arm portionwith the first and second terminal units is high.

DETAILS OF EMBODIMENT OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE Embodiment

A specific embodiment of a connector device A of the present disclosureis described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 . Note that the presentinvention is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to berepresented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims andin the meaning and scope of equivalents. In this embodiment, an obliqueright-lower side in FIGS. 1 to 3 is defined as a front side concerning afront-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a verticaldirection. An oblique left-lower side in FIGS. 1 to 3 is defined as aleft side concerning a lateral direction.

The connector device A of this embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 7 ,a first connector 10 to be mounted on a first circuit board B, a secondconnector 30 to be mounted on a second circuit board C and adaptors 50.The first circuit board B is, for example, provided in a shark finantenna (not shown) to be mounted on a roof (not shown) of an automotivevehicle. The first circuit board B is horizontally arranged with amounting surface facing down, i.e. facing the inner side of the vehicle.The second circuit board C is, for example, provided in an ECU mountedin the roof of the automotive vehicle, and horizontally arranged with amounting surface facing up, i.e. facing toward the shark fin antenna.The first and second circuit boards B, C are arranged in such apositional relationship that the mounting surfaces thereof are facingeach other in parallel.

The first and second connectors 10, 30 are electrically conductivelyconnected by bringing the first circuit board B closer to the secondcircuit board C. By connecting the both connectors 10, 30, the first andsecond circuit boards B, C are connected without via a wiring harness,and high-speed communication becomes possible between the first andsecond circuit boards B, C. In a part of the roof of the automotivevehicle where the shark fin antenna is mounted, assembling tolerancesbetween the roof and the shark fin antenna are relatively large. Thus,the first and second circuit boards B, C are possibly positionallydeviated in a horizontal direction intersecting a connecting directionof the both connectors 10, 30. In the connector device A of thisembodiment, the both connectors 10, 30 are connected while positionaldeviations of the both circuit boards B, C are absorbed.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the first connector 10 includes a first housing 11and a plurality of first terminal units 16. With the first connector 10mounted on the first circuit board B, the upper surface of the firsthousing 11 is fixed to the first circuit board B and upper end parts ofthe plurality of first terminal units 16 are connected to a printedcircuit (not shown) of the first circuit board B. The first housing 11is a single component made of synthetic resin and including a firstterminal holding portion 12 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape,an interference avoiding portion 75 in the form of a rectangular tubeand a guiding portion 14 having a rectangular shape.

The first terminal holding portion 12 is formed with a plurality offirst terminal accommodation chambers 13 vertically penetrating throughthe first terminal holding portion 12. The first terminal accommodationchamber 13 is open in a front surface 12S (lower surface) of the firstterminal holding portion 12. In a bottom view of the first connector 10,the first terminal accommodation chamber 13 is circular. The pluralityof first terminal accommodation chambers 13 are arranged to be alignedin the front-rear direction and the lateral direction.

Tapered guiding surfaces 76 for guiding tip parts 50T of the adaptors 50to be described later into the first terminal accommodation chambers 13are formed on opening edge parts of the first terminal accommodationchambers 13 in the front surface 12S of the first terminal holdingportion 12. A radius of curvature of the guiding surface 76 in the frontsurface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12 is larger than halfthe interval between adjacent ones of the first terminal accommodationchambers 13. Therefore, partition wall portions 77 partitioning betweenadjacent ones of the first terminal accommodation chambers 13 arearcuately recessed with respect to the front surface 12S of the firstterminal holding portion 12.

The interference avoiding portion 75 projects downward at a right angleto the front surface 12S from the outer peripheral edge of the frontsurface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12. The interferenceavoiding portion 75 is continuous over the entire periphery of the firstterminal holding portion 12. In a bottom view, the interference avoidingportion 75 surrounds all of the plurality of first terminalaccommodation chambers 13. The inner peripheral surface of theinterference avoiding portion 75 is a surface parallel to a facingdirection of the first and second connectors 10, 30.

The guiding portion 14 is located below (closer to the second connector30) the front surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12. Abase end 14P (upper end) of the guiding portion 14 is continuous overthe entire periphery of the lower end edge of the interference avoidingportion 75. The guiding portion 14 is composed of four wall partsinclined obliquely from the lower end edge of the interference avoidingportion 75 to be wider toward the bottom. That is, the guiding portion14 is tapered from the base end 14P (upper end) to a tip 14T (lower end)thereof.

The guiding portion 14 is continuous over the entire periphery of thefirst terminal holding portion 12. In a bottom view, the guiding portion14 surrounds all of the plurality of first terminal accommodationchambers 13. A space in the first housing 11 surrounded by theinterference avoiding portion 75 and the guiding portion 14 below thefront surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12 functions asa first swinging space 15. The first swinging space 15 is open downwardof the first housing 11.

The plurality of first terminal units 16 are individually accommodatedin the plurality of first terminal accommodation chambers 13. As shownin FIGS. 12 and 13 , the first terminal unit 16 includes a first innerconductor 17 made of metal, a first dielectric 21 made of syntheticresin and a first outer conductor 22 made of metal. The first innerconductor 17 has a tubular shape having an axis oriented parallel to theconnecting direction of the both connectors 10, 30. The first innerconductor 17 includes a small diameter portion 18, a claw portion 19radially projecting from the outer periphery of the small diameterportion 18 and a large diameter portion 20 having a larger diameter thanthe small diameter portion 18. The small diameter portion 18 and thelarge diameter portion 20 are connected in an axial direction. The firstdielectric 21 has a disk shape having a center hole. The first outerconductor 22 has a hollow cylindrical shape having an axis orientedparallel to the first inner conductor 17 and the first dielectric 21.

The first terminal unit 16 is formed such that the small diameterportion 18 of the first inner conductor 17 is coaxially surrounded bythe first dielectric 21 and the first inner conductor 17 and the firstdielectric 21 are coaxially surrounded by the first outer conductor 22.The first dielectric 21 is located in an upper end part of the firstouter conductor 22. A space in the first outer conductor 22 below thefirst dielectric 21 functions as a connection space 23 open downward. Inthe connection space 23, the large diameter portion 20 of the firstinner conductor 17 projects downward. Each connection space 23communicates with the swinging space 15. The first inner conductor 17 isarranged only in a region backward (upward) of a back end 76E (upperend) of the guiding surface 76.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the second connector 30 includes a second housing31, as many second terminal units 43 as the first terminal units 16 andas many adaptors 50 as the second terminal units 43. With the secondconnector 30 mounted on the second circuit board C, the lower surface ofthe second housing 31 is fixed to the second circuit board C and lowerend parts of a plurality of the second terminal units 43 are connectedto a printed circuit (not shown) of the second circuit board C. Thesecond housing 31 is a single component made of synthetic resin andincluding a second terminal holding portion 32 having a rectangularparallelepiped shape, a peripheral wall portion 34 having a rectangularshape and a pair of bilaterally symmetrical holding projections 40.

The second terminal holding portion 32 is formed with as many secondterminal accommodation chambers 33 as the second terminal units 43. Thesecond terminal accommodation chambers 33 vertically penetrate throughthe second terminal holding portion 32. In a plan view of the secondconnector 30, the second terminal accommodation chamber 33 is circular.A plurality of the second terminal accommodation chambers 33 arearranged to be aligned in the front-rear direction and the lateraldirection, similarly to the plurality of first terminal accommodationchambers 13.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the peripheral wall portion 34 projects upward inparallel to the connecting direction of the both connectors 10, 30 fromthe outer peripheral edge of the upper end of the second terminalholding portion 32. In a plan view, the peripheral wall portion 34surrounds all of the plurality of second terminal accommodation chambers33. A space of the second housing 31 defined by the peripheral wallportion 34 above the second terminal holding portion 32 functions as asecond swinging space 35. The second swinging space 35 is open upward ofthe second housing 31, i.e. toward the first connector 10. Both left andright side wall portions 36 constituting the peripheral wall portion 34are formed with cut portions 37. The cut portions 37 are substantiallyrectangular cuts formed to extend downward from the upper end edges ofthe side wall portions 36.

Supporting wall portions 38 covering the cut portions 37 from laterallyouter sides are formed on the both side wall portions 36. Both front andrear end parts of the supporting wall portion 38 are bent and connectedto the outer side surface of the side wall portion 36. A spacesurrounded by the supporting wall portion 38 functions as a holdingspace 39 communicating with the second swinging space 35 via the cutportion 37. Holding projections 40 are formed on the inner side surfacesof the both left and right supporting wall portions 38. The holdingprojection 40 projects into the holding space 39 from a central part inthe front-rear direction of the supporting wall portion 38. As shown inFIG. 5 , a guide slope 41 inclined downward toward the second swingingspace 35 from the side of the supporting wall portion 38 is formed onthe upper surface of the holding projection 40. The lower surface of theholding projection 40 functions as a fixed-side facing surface 42intersecting the connecting direction of the both connectors 10, 30.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the plurality of second terminal units 43 areindividually accommodated in the plurality of second terminalaccommodation chambers 33. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 , the secondterminal unit 43 includes a second inner conductor 44 made of metal, asecond dielectric 45 made of synthetic resin and a second outerconductor 46 made of metal. The second inner conductor 44 is the samecomponent as the first inner conductor 17 and includes a small diameterportion 18, a claw portion 19 and a large diameter portion 20. Thesecond inner conductor 44 is arranged in an orientation verticallyinverted from that of the first inner conductor 17 in an axialdirection. The second dielectric 45 is the same component as the firstdielectric 21 and arranged in an orientation vertically inverted fromthat of the first dielectric 21 in the axial direction. The second outerconductor 46 has a hollow cylindrical shape having an axis orientedparallel to the second inner conductor 44 and the second dielectric 45.A contact part of the second terminal unit 43 with the adaptor 50 isvertically symmetrical with a contact part of the first terminal unit 16with the adaptor 50 except a diameter reduced portion 48.

The second terminal unit 43 is formed such that the small diameterportion 18 of the second inner conductor 44 is coaxially surrounded bythe second dielectric 45 and the second inner conductor 44 and thesecond dielectric 45 are coaxially surrounded by the second outerconductor 46. The second dielectric 45 is located in a lower end part ofthe second outer conductor 46. A space above the second dielectric 45 inthe second outer conductor 46 functions as a supporting space 47 openupward. In the supporting space 47, the large diameter portion 20 of thesecond inner conductor 44 projects upward. Each supporting space 47communicates with the second swinging space 35.

The diameter reduced portion 48 continuous over the entire circumferenceis formed on the inner periphery of an upper end part of the secondouter conductor 46. The diameter reduced portion 48 is arranged in thesupporting space 47 and shaped to bulge radially inward into a V shapeas shown in FIG. 8 . The diameter reduced portion 48 includes areceiving portion 78 and a tapered guide portion 79. The receivingportion 78 projects from the upper end edge of the second terminal unit43 obliquely upward toward an inner peripheral side with respect to theaxial direction of the second terminal unit 43 over the entireperiphery. The tapered guide portion 79 projects from the projecting endedge of the receiving portion 78 obliquely upward toward an outerperipheral side with respect to the axial direction of the secondterminal unit 43 over the entire periphery.

As shown in FIG. 8 , an inclination angle α of the receiving portion 78with respect to the axial direction of the second terminal unit 43 islarger than an inclination angle β of the tapered guide portion 79 withrespect to the axial direction of the second terminal unit 43. A regionof the second outer conductor 46 between the second dielectric 45 andthe diameter reduced portion 48 serves as a constant diameter portion 80parallel to the axial direction of the second terminal unit 43 andhaving a constant inner diameter in the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 , the adaptor 50 has an elongated shape as awhole. The adaptor 50 is symmetrical to have the same shape when bothaxial end parts are inverted. As shown in FIG. 9 , the adaptor 50 is amember including a movable inner conductor 51 made of metal, a movabledielectric 53 made of synthetic resin and a movable outer conductor 56made of metal. The adaptor 50 is formed such that the movable innerconductor 51 is inserted in an insertion hole 54 of the movabledielectric 53 and the movable outer conductor 56 is fit on the outerperiphery of the movable dielectric 53. A base end part 50P and the tippart 50T, which are both axial end parts of the adaptor 50, function asa pair of connecting end parts connectable to the first and secondterminal units 16, 43. The end surfaces of the movable dielectric 53 areexposed on the end surface of the base end part 50P and that of the tippart 50T. A pair of resilient claw pieces 52 resiliently deformable in aradial direction are formed on each of both axial end parts of themovable inner conductor 51.

The movable dielectric 53 is made of synthetic resin and has a hollowcylindrical shape coaxial with an axis of the adaptor 50. The insertionhole 54 coaxially penetrating through the movable dielectric 53 isformed in a central part of the movable dielectric 53. Circularaccommodation recesses 55 are formed in both axial end parts of themovable dielectric 53 by coaxially recessing both end surfaces of themovable dielectric 53. The accommodation recesses 55 are spacesconstituting both axial end parts of the insertion hole 54. Innerdiameters of the accommodation recesses 55 are larger than that of theinsertion hole 54. The resilient claw pieces 52 of the movable innerconductor 51 are accommodated in the accommodation recesses 55.

A plurality of pairs of locking grooves 81 are formed at equal angularintervals in a circumferential direction in the outer periphery of themovable dielectric 53. The paired locking grooves 81 are arranged atpositions separated in an axial direction of the movable dielectric 53.Tapered slide contact surfaces 82 are formed in regions on sides closerto the base end part 50P and the tip part 50T than the locking grooves81 on the outer peripheral surface of the movable dielectric 53. Thetapered slide contact surfaces 82 gradually reduce a diameter from acenter toward the end parts in the axial direction of the movabledielectric 53. The tapered slide contact surface 82 on the side of thebase end part 50P is inclined to gradually expand a clearance to theinner peripheral surface of the movable outer conductor 56 from theaxial center toward the base end part 50P. The tapered slide contactsurface 82 on the side of the tip part 50T is inclined to graduallyexpand a clearance to the inner peripheral surface of the movable outerconductor 56 from the axial center toward the tip part 50T.

The movable outer conductor 56 has a hollow cylindrical shape as awhole. A plurality of pairs of resilient arm portions 57 disposed atintervals in the circumferential direction are formed on both axial endparts of the movable outer conductor 56. The paired resilient armportions 57 are arranged at positions separated in an axial direction ofthe adaptor 50. The resilient arm portion 57 is cantilevered toward theaxial end part and resiliently deformable in a radial direction. Theresilient arm portion 57 is arranged at a position facing the taperedslide contact surface 82. A space between the tapered slide contactsurface 82 and the resilient arm portion 57 functions as a deflectionspace 59 for resiliently displacing the resilient arm portion 57radially inward.

A diameter expanded portion 58 is formed on an extending end part of theresilient arm portion 57. The diameter expanded portion 58 is shaped tobulge radially outward into a V shape. The diameter expanded portion 58includes a hooking portion 83 and a tapered slide contact portion 84.The hooking portion 83 projects obliquely toward an outer peripheralside with respect to the axial direction of the adaptor 50. The taperedslide contact portion 84 projects obliquely from the projecting end edgeof the hooking portion 83 toward an inner peripheral side with respectto the axial direction of the adaptor 50. An inclination angle γ of thehooking portion 83 with respect to the axial direction of the adaptor 50is smaller than the inclination angle α of the receiving portion 78 withrespect to the axial direction of the second terminal unit 43. Aninclination angle δ of the tapered slide contact portion 84 with respectto the axial direction of the adaptor 50 is equal to the inclinationangle β of the tapered guide portion 79 with respect to the axialdirection of the second terminal unit 43.

The movable outer conductor 56 is formed with a plurality of pairs oflocking claws 85. The locking claw 85 is formed by partially cutting andraising the movable outer conductor 56 and resiliently deformable in theradial direction. The plurality of pairs of locking claws 85 arearranged at the same intervals as the locking grooves 81 in thecircumferential direction. The paired locking claws 85 are at positionsseparated in the axial direction of the adaptor 50. The locking claw 85on the side of the base end part 50P projects obliquely inward towardthe tip part 50T. The locking claw 85 on the side of the tip part 50Tprojects obliquely inward toward the base end part 50P. The lockingclaws 85 are arranged in a region closer to a center than the resilientarm portions 57 in the axial direction of the adaptor 50. If the movableouter conductor 56 and the movable dielectric 53 are assembled, thelocking claws 85 are locked in the locking grooves 81, whereby themovable dielectric 53 and the movable outer conductor 56 are held in anassembled state.

The base end part 50P, which is one axial end part of the adaptor 50, isattached to the second terminal unit 43 while being inserted in thesupporting space 47 of the second connector 30. In the process ofconnecting the base end part 50P to the second terminal unit 43, thetapered slide contact portions 84 of the adaptor 50 slide in contactwith the tapered guide portion 79 of the second terminal unit 43,whereby the resilient arm portions 57 are temporarily resilientlydeformed into the deflection spaces 59. When the diameter expandedportions 58 pass through the diameter reduced portion 48, the resilientarm portions 57 resiliently return and bent parts of the diameterexpanded portions 58 where the hooking portions 83 and the tapered slidecontact portions 84 are connected resiliently contact the innerperipheral surface of the constant diameter portion 80 of the secondouter conductor 46.

If the resilient arm portions 57 resiliently return and the movableouter conductor 56 and the second outer conductor 46 contact, thehooking portions 83 of the diameter expanded portions 58 are locked tothe receiving portion 78 of the diameter reduced portion 48 in the axialdirection. By this locking action, the separation of the adaptor 50 fromthe second terminal unit 43 is restricted. Even if the adaptor 50 isvertically inverted to project downward from the second terminal unit43, a locked state of the diameter expanded portions 58 and the diameterreduced portion 48 is maintained. The adaptors 50 are individuallyswingable with contact parts of the base end parts 50P and the secondterminal units 43 as fulcrums. Even if the adaptor 50 swings in thefront-rear direction or lateral direction with respect to the secondterminal unit 43, the locked state of the diameter expanded portions 58and the diameter reduced portion 48 is maintained. With the base endpart 50P attached to the second terminal unit 43, the large diameterportion 20 of the second inner conductor 44 is accommodated in theaccommodation recess 55 and the resilient claw pieces 52 of the movableinner conductor 51 resiliently contact the inner periphery of the largediameter portion 20 of the second inner conductor 44.

The adaptor 50 attached to the second terminal unit 43 projects upwardfrom the second housing 31. The tip part SOT of the adaptor 50 isconnected to the first terminal unit 16. Here, since one adaptor 50 issupported in contact with only one second terminal unity 43, each of theplurality of adaptors 50 can individually swing in a direction differentfrom the other adaptors 50. However, in a state where the plurality ofadaptors 50 swing in mutually different directions, the tip parts SOT ofthe plurality of adaptors 50 cannot be simultaneously connected to theplurality of first terminal units 16 when the first and secondconnectors 10, 30 are connected.

As a measure against that, the second connector 30 is provided with analignment member 60. The alignment member 60 is a single componentformed from a metal plate material. As shown in FIG. 3 , the alignmentmember 60 includes a plate-like body portion 61 and a pair ofbilaterally symmetrical resilient holding pieces 68. The plate-like bodyportion 61 is a flat plate having a plate thickness direction orientedparallel to the connecting direction of the both connector 10, 30. Theplate-like body portion 61 has the same shape as the peripheral wallportion 34 of the second housing 31 in a plan view.

The plate-like body portion 61 is formed with a plurality of holeportions 62 in the same arrangement as the plurality of second terminalunits 43 in a plan view. The hole portion 62 has a circular shape havingan inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the movable outerconductor 56, and vertically penetrates through the plate-like bodyportion 61. A plurality of fixed projections 63 spaced apart in acircumferential direction are formed on the inner periphery of the holeportion 62. The fixed projections 63 are formed by closely bending tipparts of extending parts extending toward a radial center from the innerperiphery of the hole portion 62 so that the tip parts are foldeddownward.

The outer peripheral surface of the projecting end part of the fixedprojection 63 functions as a fixed contact portion 64 in the form of asemicircular curved surface. The entire region of the fixed contactportion 64 is formed only by a non-fracture surface different from afracture surface produced by press working, out of surfaces of thealignment member 60. A diameter of an inscribed circle internallytangent to the projecting ends of the plurality of fixed projections 63,i.e. the plurality of fixed contact portions 64, is equal to or slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the movable outer conductor 56. Asshown in FIG. 10 , escaping recesses 86 are formed between the fixedprojections 63 adjacent in the circumferential direction. An innerdiameter of the escaping recess 86 is larger than a diameter of avirtual circle (not shown) tangent to the diameter expanded portions 58of the resilient arm portions 57.

The plate-like body portion 61 is integrally formed with a plurality ofresilient contact pieces 65 disposed to overlap on the upper surface ofthe plate-like body portion 61. The resilient contact piece 65 has anarcuate shape in a plan view. One resilient contact piece 65 iscantilevered along an opening edge of one hole portion 62 with the outerperipheral edge of the plate-like body portion 61 as a base point. Amovable projection 66 is formed on an extending end part of theresilient contact piece 65. The movable projection 66 is formed byclosely bending a tip part of an extending part extending toward theradial center from the inner periphery of the extending end part of theresilient contact piece 65 so that the tip part is folded upward. Theouter peripheral surface of the projecting end part of the movableprojection 66 functions as a movable contact portion 67 in the form of asemicircular curved surface. The entire region of the movable contactportion 67 is formed only by a non-fracture surface, similarly to thefixed contact portion 64.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the resilient holding piece 68 includes a pair offront and rear leg portions 69 extending downward at a right angle tothe plate-like body portion 61 from a side edge of the plate-like bodyportion 61 and a locking portion 70 coupling the extending ends of theboth leg portions 69. The locking portion 70 is in the form of a plateparallel to the plate-like body portion 61. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 ,the upper surface of the locking portion 70 serves as a movable-sidefacing surface 71. The movable-side facing surface 71 faces thefixed-side facing surface 42 in the vertical direction parallel to theconnecting direction of the both connectors 10, 30. The resilientholding piece 68 is formed with a guided portion 72 protruding obliquelydownward from the inner side edge of the locking portion 70.

The alignment member 60 is mounted on the second housing 31 by beingbrought closer to the second housing 31 from above. In the process ofmounting the alignment member 60 on the second housing 31, a pair of theguided portions 72 slide in contact with a pair of the guide slopes 41,whereby the pair of resilient holding pieces 68 are resiliently deformedin directions toward each other. If the guided portions 72 and thelocking portions 70 pass through the holding projections 40, the pair ofresilient holding pieces 68 resiliently return and are accommodated intothe holding spaces 39. The movable-side facing surfaces 71 of theresilient holding pieces 68 face the fixed-side facing surfaces 42 ofthe second housing 31 from below. In the above way, the assembling ofthe alignment member 60 with the second housing 31 is completed.

With the alignment member 60 mounted on the second housing 31, an outerperipheral edge part of the plate-like body portion 61 is placed on theupper end surface of the peripheral wall portion 34, the leg portions 69and the locking portions 70 are accommodated in the holding spaces 39,and the locking portions 70 creep under the holding projections 40. Bylocking the locking portions 70 to the holding projections 40, theseparation of the alignment member 60 from the second housing 31 isrestricted. With the outer peripheral edge of the plate-like bodyportion 61 aligned with the peripheral wall portion 34, clearances aresecured between the leg portions 69 and the supporting wall portions 38and between the locking portions 70 and the supporting wall portions 38.

Accordingly, the alignment member 60 is held on the second housing 31with a relative displacement in a direction parallel to the plate-likebody portion 61 allowed. The direction parallel to the plate-like bodyportion 61 is a direction which intersects perpendicularly to theconnecting direction of the both connectors 10, 30 and in whichpositional deviations of the both circuit boards B, C are assumed. Arelative displacement amount of the alignment member 60 with respect tothe second housing 31 reaches its maximum when the leg portions 69 orthe locking portions 70 come into contact with the supporting wallportions 38. With the relative displacement amount of the alignmentmember 60 maximized, a positional relationship in which at least partsof the movable-side facing surfaces 71 vertically face at least parts ofthe fixed-side facing surfaces 42 is maintained. Therefore, even if thedisplacement amount of the alignment member 60 is maximum, the alignmentmember 60 is kept mounted on the second housing 31.

After the alignment member 60 is mounted on the second housing 31, theplurality of adaptors 50 are attached to the second terminal units 43.In attaching the adaptor 50, the base end part 50P of the adaptor 50 isinserted into the second swinging space 35 through the hole portion 62and fit into the supporting space 47 of the second terminal unit 43. Thealignment member 60 may be mounted on the second housing 31 after theadaptors 50 are attached to the second terminal units 43. As shown inFIG. 10 , when the tip part 50T of the adaptor 50 passes through thehole portion 62, the diameter expanded portions 58 of the resilient armportions 57 pass through the escaping recesses 86. Thus, the diameterexpanded portions 58 do not interfere with the alignment member 60.

With the adaptors 50 and the alignment member 60 mounted in the secondhousing 31, the outer peripheries of the movable outer conductors 56 aresurrounded over the entire circumference by hole edge parts of the holeportions 62. Since the fixed contact portions 64 and the movable contactportions 67 are in contact with the outer peripheries of the movableouter conductors 56, the adaptors 50 are held in the alignment member 60with relative displacements in directions parallel to the plate-likebody portion 61 restricted. Since the alignment member 60 iselectrically conductive, if the fixed contact portions 64 and themovable contact portions 67 contact the outer peripheries of the movableouter conductors 56, the alignment member 60 and the plurality ofadaptors 50 are electrically conductively connected.

The alignment member 60 is in contact with the movable outer conductor56 in a region between the resilient arm portions 57 on the side of thebase end part 50P and the resilient arm portions 57 on the side of thetip part 50P in the axial direction of the adaptor 50. Therefore,neither the fixed contact portions 64 nor the movable contact portions67 are in contact with the resilient arm portions 57. In this way, thedamage and deformation of the resilient arm portions 57 are prevented.

By restricting a relative displacement of each adaptor 50 with respectto the alignment member 60, relative displacements among the adaptors 50are restricted by the alignment member 60. When an external force in aswinging direction is applied to any one of the adaptor 50, all theadaptors 50 swing by the same angle and in the same direction at once,integrally with the alignment member 60. Thus, the tip parts 50T of allthe adaptors 50 are maintained in a fixed positional relationshipregardless of the swinging direction and the swing angle of the adaptors50. The maintained positional relationship is the same as thearrangement of the plurality of first terminal units 16. The adaptor 50swings with the connected part of the second terminal unit 43 and thebase end part 50P of the adaptor 50 as a fulcrum. The swing angle of theadaptor 50 reaches its maximum when the adaptor 50 comes into contactwith the peripheral wall portion 34. That is, if the adaptor 50 comesinto contact with the peripheral wall portion 34, the inclination of theadaptor 50 is restricted.

A displacement amount of the alignment member 60 when the adaptor 50 isinclined becomes larger as a contact position of the alignment member 60gets closer to the tip part 50T of the adaptor 50. A pressing forcegenerated between the adaptor 50 and the alignment member 60 when theadaptor 50 sliding in contact with the guiding portion 14 pushes thealignment member 60 in a horizontal direction increases as the contactposition of the alignment member 60 gets closer to the base end part 50Pof the adaptor 50. Since the contact position of the alignment member 60is an intermediate position between the base end part 50P and the tippart 50T in this embodiment, the pressing force generated between theadaptor 50 and the alignment member 60 can be reduced while thedisplacement amount of the alignment member 60 when the adaptor 50 isinclined is suppressed.

If the first and second circuit boards B, C are relatively displacedwhen the first and second connectors 10, 30 are connected, the tip part50T of any one of the adaptors 50 comes into contact with the innersurface of the guiding portion 14. If the both connectors 10, 30 arefurther connected from this state, the tip part 50T of the adaptor 50slides in contact with the inclined inner surface of the guiding portion14, whereby the tip parts 50T of all the adaptors 50 are guided toconnection positions to the first terminal units 16 while changing theswing angles at once. During this time, the base end parts 50P of theadaptors 50 swing in the second swinging space 35 and the tip parts 50Tof the adaptors 50 swing in the first swinging space 15.

The farthest tip of the tip part 50T projects more toward the firstterminal unit 16 than the projecting ends of the hooking portions 83,which are contact points of the diameter expanded portions 58 with theguiding portion 14. Thus, in the process of the guiding portion 14 toguide the tip part 50T, a part of the tip part 50T advances more upward(toward the first terminal holding portion 12) than the base end 14P ofthe guiding portion 14 before the diameter expanded portions 58 reachthe base end 14P of the guiding portion 14. Particularly, if the firstand second connectors 10, 30 are positionally deviated on a horizontalplane perpendicular to the facing direction of the both connectors 10,30, the tip surface of the tip part 50 becomes oblique to the frontsurface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12, wherefore anadvance amount of the tip part 50T increases.

However, since the front surface 12S of the first terminal holdingportion 12 is located above the base end 14P of the guiding portion 14,the tip parts 50T do not interfere with the front surface 12S of thefirst terminal holding portion 12. Therefore, the tip parts 50T do notinterfere with the front surface 12S of the first terminal holdingportion 12 and the diameter expanded portions 58 can reach the base end14P of the guiding portion 14. When the diameter expanded portions 58reach the base end 14P of the guiding portion 14, centers of the tipparts 50T approach axes of the first terminal units 16 in a plan view.

Thereafter, if the connection of the tip parts 50T and the firstterminal units 16 proceeds, the diameter expanded portions 58 slide incontact with the guiding surfaces 76, whereby the centers of the tipparts 50T are arranged coaxially with the first terminal units 16. Ifthe connection of the tip parts 50T and the first terminal units 16further proceeds, the diameter expanded portions 58 resiliently contactthe inner peripheral surfaces of the first outer conductors 22 and themovable inner conductors 51 resiliently contact the first innerconductors 17. If the tip parts 50T of the adaptors 50 are connected tothe first terminal units 16 as described above, the first and secondconnectors 10, 30 are properly connected. When the both connectors 10,30 are properly connected, the first and second circuit boards B, C areconnected via the first terminal units 16, the alignment member 60 andthe second terminal units 43.

The movable inner conductor 51 is inserted in the insertion hole 54 ofthe movable dielectric 53 with a clearance formed therebetween.Accordingly, the movable inner conductor 51 can be relatively displacedto incline an axis with respect to the movable dielectric 53 and themovable outer conductor 56. In this way, a good contact state of themovable inner conductor 51 with the first and second inner conductors17, 44 and a good contact state of the movable outer conductor 56 withthe first and second outer conductors 22, 46 can be combined regardlessof the swing angle even if the adaptor 50 swings and an axis of theadaptor 50 is inclined with respect to those of the first and secondterminal units 16, 43.

The connector device A of this embodiment includes the first connector10, the second connector 30 and the adaptors 50. The first connector 10includes the plurality of first terminal units 16 and is mounted on thefirst circuit board B. The second connector 30 includes the plurality ofsecond terminal units 43 and is mounted on the second circuit board C.The adaptor 50 includes the base end part 50P and the tip part 50Tfunctioning as a pair of connecting end parts.

The first and second terminal units 16, 43 include the first and secondinner conductors 17, 24 serving as contact portions symmetrical witheach other, and the first and second outer conductors 22, 46 serving ascontact portions symmetrical with each other. The base end part 50P andthe tip part 50T of the adaptor 50 can contact the first inner conductor17, the first outer conductor 22, the second inner conductor 44 and thesecond outer conductor 46. The base end part SOP and the tip part SOTare symmetrical with respect to a facing direction of the first andsecond terminal units 16, 43.

According to this configuration, since the base end part SOP and the tippart SOT of the adaptor 50 are symmetrical, the orientation of theadaptor 50 needs not be confirmed in connecting the adaptor 50 to thefirst or second terminal unit 16, 43. That is, the base end part SOP cancontact either of the first and second terminal units 16, 43, and thetip part SOT can also contact either of the first and second terminalunits 16, 43. Therefore, the connector device A of this embodiment isexcellent in workability at the time of assembling.

The adaptor 50 includes the movable inner conductor 51, the movabledielectric 53 for accommodating the movable inner conductor 51 and themovable outer conductor 56 surrounding the movable dielectric 53. Themovable dielectric 53 is exposed on the end surfaces of the base endpart SOP and the tip part SOT. According to this configuration,workability is good since the exposed surface of the movable dielectric53 can be pushed in connecting the base end part SOP or the tip part SOTto the first terminal unit 16 or the second terminal unit 43.

At least the pair of locking grooves 81 spaced apart in the axialdirection are formed in the outer periphery of the movable dielectric53. The movable outer conductor 56 is formed with at least the pair oflocking claws 85 spaced apart in the axial direction. The locking claws85 project obliquely toward the inner peripheral side and areresiliently deformable in the radial direction. In the process ofassembling the movable outer conductor 56 with the movable dielectric53, the locking claws 85 slide in contact with the outer peripheralsurface of the movable dielectric 53 while being resiliently deformed.If the movable outer conductor 56 is properly assembled with the movabledielectric 53, the resiliently restored locking claws 85 are locked inthe locking grooves 81, thereby restricting relative displacements ofthe movable dielectric 53 and the movable outer conductor 56 in theaxial direction. In this way, the movable dielectric 53 and the movableouter conductor 56 are held in the assembled state.

The pair of locking claws 85 are formed at two positions spaced apart inthe axial direction and each thereof projects in an oblique directiontoward the mating locking claw 85. According to this configuration, inthe process of assembling the movable outer conductor 56 with themovable dielectric 53, the locking claw 85 on a front side in anassembling direction passes through the locking groove 81 on a rear side(near side) in the assembling direction. If the movable outer conductor56 is properly assembled with the movable dielectric 53, the pair oflocking claws 85 resiliently return and are individually locked in thepair of locking grooves 81. Since the pair of locking claws 85 arelocked to the movable dielectric 53 in directions opposite to eachother, the movable outer conductor 56 and the movable dielectric 53 arerestricted from being relatively displaced in either of forward andreverse directions along the axis direction.

The tapered slide contact surfaces 82 inclined to gradually increase theclearance to the inner peripheral surface of the movable outer conductor56 from the central part in the axial direction of the movabledielectric 53 toward the base end part 50P and the tapered slide contactsurfaces 82 inclined to gradually increase the clearance to the innerperipheral surface of the movable outer conductor 56 from the centralpart in the axial direction of the movable dielectric 53 toward the tippart 50T are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dielectric53. According to this configuration, since the locking claws 85 slide incontact with the tapered slide contact surfaces 82 in the process ofassembling the movable outer conductor 56 with the movable dielectric53, the projecting ends of the locking claws 85 are not caught on theouter peripheral surface of the movable dielectric 53. The locking claws85 are formed in the regions different from the resilient arm portions57 in the axial direction of the adaptor 50. According to thisconfiguration, since the rigidity of the resilient arm portions 57 isnot reduced by forming the locking claws 85, the connection reliabilityof the resilient arm portions 57 with the first and second terminalunits 16, 43 is high.

The movable outer conductor 56 includes the resilient arm portions 57 tobe connected to the first or second terminal units 16, 43 while beingresiliently displaced toward the inner peripheral side. The resilientarm portions 57 are disposed in the regions facing the tapered slidecontact surfaces 82. According to this configuration, the spaces betweenthe tapered slide contact surfaces 82 and the resilient arm portions 57function as the deflection spaces 59 for allowing resilientdisplacements of the resilient arm portions 57, wherefore the outerdiameter of the movable outer conductor 56 can be suppressed small.

The base end part 50P and the tip part 50T of the adaptor 50 are formedwith the hooking portions 83 radially projecting from the movable outerconductor 56. The second terminal unit 43 is formed with the receivingportion 78 for holding the adaptor 50 in the second connector 30 bybeing locked to the hooking portions 83. According to thisconfiguration, the adaptor 50 can be held hanging from the secondconnector 30 by locking the hooking portions 83 to the receiving portion78. Therefore, the adaptors 50 need not be supported with hand until theadaptors 50 and the first connector 10 are connected. Therefore,workability is good.

The diameter reduced portion 48 of the second terminal unit 43 includesthe tapered guide portion 79 for guiding the base end part 50P to thereceiving portion 78 to achieve a locked state. The inclination angle αof the receiving portion 78 with respect to the connecting direction ofthe second terminal unit 43 and the base end part 50P is larger than theinclination angle β of the tapered guide portion 79 with respect to theconnecting direction of the second terminal unit 43 and the tip part50T. According to this configuration, the locking function of thehooking portions 83 and the receiving portion 78 can be enhanced while aresistance generated when the base end part 50P is guided to thereceiving portion 78 to achieve the locked state is reduced.

The movable outer conductor 56 in the base end part 50P is formed withthe tapered slide contact portions 84 configured to slide in contactwith the tapered guide portion 79 in the process of locking the hookingportions 83 to the receiving portion 78. The inclination angle δ of thetapered slide contact portion 84 with respect to the connectingdirection of the second terminal unit 43 and the base end part 50P isequal to the inclination angle β of the tapered guide portion 79 withrespect to the connecting direction of the second terminal unit 43 andthe base end part 50P. According to this configuration, since thetapered slide contact portion 84 is guided while being held in surfacecontact with the tapered guide portion 79, the tapered slide contactportion 84 is not caught on the tapered guide portion 79 and thereliability of a guide function is excellent.

The receiving portion 78 projects radially inward from the innerperiphery of the second terminal unit 43. The base end part SOP includesthe resilient arm portions 57. The hooking portions 83 project furtherradially outward than the resilient arm portions 57. The projecting endsof the hooking portions 83 resiliently contact the inner periphery ofthe second terminal unit 43. According to this configuration, since aprojecting dimension of the receiving portion 78 from the innerperiphery of the second terminal unit 43 is reliably secured as alocking margin in the radial direction between the receiving portion 78and the hooking portion 83, contact reliability is excellent.

The hooking portions 83 are disposed at a plurality of positions spacedapart in the circumferential direction. The constant diameter portion 80having a constant inner diameter and continuous in the connectingdirection of the second terminal unit 43 and the base end part SOP isformed in a region contactable by the hooking portions 83 on the innerperiphery of the second terminal unit 43. According to thisconfiguration, even if the adaptor 50 is inclined with respect to thesecond connector 30, the plurality of hooking portions 83 can reliablycontact the constant diameter portion 80 on the inner periphery of thesecond terminal unit 43.

The adaptor 50 includes the movable dielectric 53 and the movable outerconductor 56 surrounding the movable dielectric 53. The movable outerconductor 56 is formed with the resilient arm portions 57 and thelocking claws 85. The locking claws 85 are formed in the regions of themovable outer conductor 56 other than the resilient arm portions 57, andhold the movable dielectric 53 and the movable outer conductor 56 in theassembled state by being locked in the locking grooves 81. According tothis configuration, since the rigidity of the resilient arm portions 57is not reduced by forming the locking claws 85, the contact reliabilityof the second terminal units 43 and the hooking portions 83 is high.

The second connector 30 includes the peripheral wall portion 34surrounding the adaptors 50 with the base end parts 50P connected to thesecond terminal units 43. The inclination of the adaptors 50 isrestricted by contact with the peripheral wall portion 34. According tothis configuration, since the inclination of the adaptors 50 is limitedby the peripheral wall portion 34, the hooking portions 83 can reliablycontact the inner periphery of the second terminal unit 43.

The first connector 10 includes the first terminal units 16 and ismounted on the first circuit board B. The second connector 30 includesthe second terminal units 43 and is mounted on the second circuit boardC with the second terminal units 43 facing the first terminal units 16.The adaptor 50 serving as a movable terminal unit is swingable with thesecond terminal unit 43 as a fulcrum, and includes the tip part 50Tserving as the connecting end part to be connected to the first terminalunit 16. The first connector 10 includes the first terminal holdingportion 12 for accommodating the first terminal units 16 and the guidingportion 14. The guiding portion 14 is disposed closer to the secondconnector 30 than the first surface 12S of the first terminal holdingportion 12, and tapered from the base end 14P toward the tip 14T. Theinterference avoiding portion 75 is interposed between the outerperipheral edge of the front surface 12S of the first terminal holdingportion 12 and the base end 14P of the guiding portion 14.

According to this configuration, in the process of connecting the firstand second connectors 10, 30, the tip parts 50T of the adaptors 50 slidein contact with the guiding portion 14 to be guided and connected to thefirst terminal units 16. If the first and second connectors 10, 30 arepositionally deviated in a direction intersecting the facing directionof the first and second terminal units 16, 43, the tip parts 50T reachthe base end 14P of the guiding portion 14 and the guide by the guidingportion 14 is finished with the adaptors 50 inclined with respect to thefacing direction of the both connectors 10, 30. At this time, since thetip surfaces of the tip parts 50T are oblique to the front surface 12Sof the first terminal holding portion 12, the tip parts 50T projecttoward the front surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12immediately before reaching the base end 14P of the guiding portion 14.

Here, a space for accommodating the tip parts 50T is secured between thebase end 14P of the guiding portion 14 and the front surface 12S of thefirst terminal holding portion 12. Accordingly, the tip parts 50T reachthe base end 14P of the guiding portion 14 without interfering with thefront surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12 and areguided to directly face the first terminal units 16 and connected to thefirst terminal units 16. Therefore, the connector device A of thisembodiment is high in the reliability of a connecting operation.

The first terminal holding portion 12 is formed with the first terminalaccommodation chambers 13 open in the front surface 12S of the firstterminal holding portion 12 and configured to accommodate the firstterminal units 16. The tapered guiding surface 76 for guiding the tippart 50T into the first terminal accommodation chamber 13 is formed onthe opening edge part of the first terminal accommodation chamber 13.According to this configuration, the tip part 50T can be reliably guidedinto the first terminal accommodation chamber 13.

The first terminal unit 16 includes the first inner conductor 17 and thefirst outer conductor 22 surrounding the first inner conductor 17. Thetip part 50T includes the movable inner conductor 51 to be connected tothe first inner conductor 17, the movable dielectric 53 surrounding themovable inner conductor 51 and the movable outer conductor 56surrounding to the movable dielectric 53 and to be connected to theinner periphery of the first outer conductor 22. The tip surface of themovable dielectric 53 is exposed on the tip surface of the tip part 50T.The first inner conductor 17 is arranged only in the region backward ofthe back end 76E of the guiding surface 76.

According to this configuration, in the process of connecting the tippart 50T to the first terminal unit 16, the tip part 50T is positionedwith respect to the first terminal unit 16 by starting the connection ofthe movable outer conductor 56 and the first outer conductor 22.However, at this point of time, the first inner conductor 17 is not incontact with the tip of the tip part 50T. Therefore, in the process ofconnecting the tip part 50T to the first terminal unit 16, the movabledielectric 53 does not interfere with the first terminal unit 16.

The guiding surface 76 has a circular cross-sectional shapeperpendicular to the facing direction of the first and second terminalunits 16, 43. The radius of curvature of the guiding surface 76 in thefront surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12 is largerthan half the interval between adjacent ones of the first terminalaccommodation chambers 13. According to this configuration, thepartition wall portions 77 partitioning between adjacent ones of thefirst terminal accommodation chambers 13 are arcuately recessed from thefront surface 12S of the first terminal holding portion 12. In this way,the tip parts 50T hardly interfere with the front surface 12S of thefirst terminal holding portion 12.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is not limited to the above described andillustrated embodiment and is represented by claims. The presentinvention is intended to include all changes in the scope of claims andin the meaning and scope of equivalents and also include the followingembodiments.

Although the adaptor includes the movable inner conductor, the movabledielectric and the movable outer conductor in the above embodiment, theadaptor may not include the movable outer conductor.

Although the pair of locking grooves and the pair of locking claws areprovided in the above embodiment, one, three or more locking grooves andlocking claws may be provided.

Although the resilient arm portions are disposed in the regions facingthe tapered slide contact surfaces in the above embodiment, theresilient arm portions may be disposed in regions not facing the taperedslide contact surfaces (e.g. regions shifted in the circumferentialdirection with respect to the tapered slide contact surfaces).

Although the locking claws are formed in the regions different from theresilient arm portions in the above embodiment, the locking claws may beformed on the resilient arm portions.

Although the entire adaptor is symmetrical in the axial direction in theabove embodiment, only the pair of connection terminal portions on theboth axial end parts of the adaptor may be symmetrically shaped.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   10 . . . first connector    -   11 . . . first housing    -   12 . . . first terminal holding portion    -   12S . . . front surface of first terminal holding portion    -   13 . . . first terminal accommodation chamber    -   14 . . . guiding portion    -   14P . . . base end of guiding portion    -   14P . . . tip of guiding portion    -   15 . . . first swinging space    -   16 . . . first terminal unit    -   17 . . . first inner conductor    -   18 . . . small diameter portion    -   19 . . . claw portion    -   20 . . . large diameter portion    -   21 . . . first dielectric    -   22 . . . first outer conductor    -   23 . . . connection space    -   30 . . . second connector    -   31 . . . second housing    -   32 . . . second terminal holding portion    -   33 . . . second terminal accommodation chamber    -   34 . . . peripheral wall portion    -   35 . . . second swinging space    -   36 . . . side wall portion    -   37 . . . cut portion    -   38 . . . supporting wall portion    -   39 . . . holding space    -   40 . . . holding projection    -   41 . . . guide slope    -   42 . . . fixed-side facing surface    -   43 . . . second terminal unit    -   44 . . . second inner conductor    -   45 . . . second dielectric    -   46 . . . second outer conductor    -   47 . . . supporting space    -   48 . . . diameter reduced portion    -   50 . . . adaptor    -   50P . . . base end part of adaptor (connecting end part)    -   50T . . . tip part of adaptor (connecting end part)    -   51 . . . movable inner conductor    -   52 . . . resilient claw piece    -   53 . . . movable dielectric    -   54 . . . insertion hole    -   55 . . . accommodation recess    -   56 . . . movable outer conductor    -   57 . . . resilient arm portion    -   58 . . . diameter expanded portion    -   59 . . . deflection space    -   60 . . . alignment member    -   61 . . . plate-like body portion    -   62 . . . hole portion    -   63 . . . fixed projection    -   64 . . . fixed contact portion    -   65 . . . resilient contact piece    -   66 . . . movable projection    -   67 . . . movable contact portion    -   68 . . . resilient holding piece    -   69 . . . leg portion    -   70 . . . locking portion    -   71 . . . movable-side facing surface    -   72 . . . guided portion    -   75 . . . interference avoiding portion    -   76 . . . guiding surface    -   76E . . . back end of guiding surface    -   77 . . . partition wall portion    -   78 . . . receiving portion    -   79 . . . tapered guide portion    -   80 . . . constant diameter portion    -   81 . . . locking groove    -   82 . . . tapered slide contact surface    -   83 . . . hooking portion    -   84 . . . tapered slide contact portion    -   85 . . . locking claw    -   86 . . . escaping recess    -   α . . . inclination angle of receiving portion    -   β . . . inclination angle of tapered guide portion    -   γ . . . inclination angle of hooking portion    -   δ . . . inclination angle of tapered slide contact portion    -   A . . . connector device    -   B . . . first circuit board    -   C . . . second circuit board

1. A connector device, comprising: a first connector including a firstterminal unit, the first connector being mounted on a first circuitboard; a second connector including a second terminal unit, the secondconnector being mounted on a second circuit board; and an adaptorincluding a pair of connecting end parts, wherein: the first and secondterminal units include contact portions symmetrical with each other, andthe pair of connecting end parts are contactable with the contactportions and symmetrical with respect to a facing direction of the firstand second terminal units.
 2. The connector device of claim 1, wherein:the adaptor includes a movable inner conductor, a movable dielectric foraccommodating the movable inner conductor and a movable outer conductorsurrounding the movable dielectric, and the movable dielectric isexposed on end surfaces of the connecting end parts.
 3. The connectordevice of claim 1, wherein: the adaptor includes a movable dielectricand a tubular movable outer conductor surrounding the movabledielectric, a locking groove is formed in an outer periphery of themovable dielectric and the movable dielectric is formed with aresiliently deformable locking claw projecting obliquely toward an innerperipheral side, and relative displacements of the movable dielectricand the movable outer conductor are restricted by locking the lockingclaw in the locking groove.
 4. The connector device of claim 3, wherein:a pair of the locking grooves are formed at two positions spaced apartin an axial direction in an outer peripheral surface of the movabledielectric, a pair of the locking claws are arranged while being spacedapart in the axial direction, and each of the pair of locking clawsprojects in an oblique direction toward the mating locking claw.
 5. Theconnector device of claim 3, wherein a tapered slide contact surfaceinclined to gradually increase a clearance to an inner peripheralsurface of the movable outer conductor toward the connecting end part isformed on an outer peripheral surface of the movable dielectric.
 6. Theconnector device of claim 5, wherein: the movable outer conductorincludes a resilient arm portion to be connected to the first or secondterminal unit while being resiliently displaced toward the innerperipheral side, and the resilient arm portion is disposed in a regionfacing the tapered slide contact surface.
 7. The connector device ofclaim 6, wherein the locking claw is formed in a region different fromthe resilient arm portion.